the welfare of the body!--he parted not
till night from this indulgent parent, when he went home with the
merchant, and had the next day tradesmen of all kinds sent for, who
had orders to provide, in their several ways, every thing necessary
for a young gentleman born to the estate he was.--As youth is little
regardless of futurity, he forgot, for a time, what consequences might
possibly attend his contract with Harriot, and was as perfectly at
ease, as if no such thing had ever happened. When fully equipped, he
went down into that country where his sister lived, and if the least
thought of his former transactions remained in him, they were now
intirely dissipated, by the kind reception he there met with, and the
entertainments made for him by the neighbouring gentry.

But his heart being bent on his travels, and receiving a letter from
his father, wherein he acquainted him that all things were ready for
his departure, he took leave of the country, after a stay of about
nine weeks, and returned to the merchant's, where his father soon came
to see him, and told him, he had provided a governor for him, who had
served several of the sons of the nobility in that capacity, and was
perfectly acquainted with the languages and manners of the countries
through which they were to pass.

This tender parent moreover acquainted him, that having consulted the
lawyers, on the score of that unhappy obligation he had laid himself
under to Harriot, and finding they had given it as their assured
opinion, that it was drawn up in the most binding and authentic
manner, he had offered that creature a hundred guineas to give up her
claim; but she had obstinately rejected his proposal, and seemed
determined to compel him to the performance of his contract; or in
case he married any other woman, to prosecute him for the moiety of
whatever portion he should receive with her.

The mention of this woman, who had given Natura so much disquiet, and
who indeed had been the primary cause of all his follies and
misfortunes, together with the thoughts of what future inconveniencies
she might involve him in, both on the account of his fortune and
reputation, made him relapse into his former agitations, and
afterwards rendered him extremely pensive, and he could not forbear
crying out, that he would chuse rather to abandon England for ever,
and, pass the whole remainder of his days in foreign climates, than
yield to become the prey any way of so wicked,